Massage implement.



. o. LEONARD & A. T. JOHNSON.

MASSAGE IMPLEMENT. APPLICATIONIHLED'AUGJ' I917.

Patented an. 29, 191 8.

OMER LEONARD AND AXEL T. JOHNSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MASSAGE IMPLEMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentgd Jan, 29, 1918.

Application filed August 3, 1917. Serial No. 184,189.

To all whom, z't-may concern:

Be it known that we, OMER LEONARD and Axur. T. JOIINSUX, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Massage Implements, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates more particularly to a massage instrument for use especially by dentists in the massaging of the gums in the treatment of pyorrhea and other diseases of the gums; and our primary objects are to provide a novel, simple and inexpensive construction of massage implement, which shall he of such size that it may be readily. inserted to operative position even small mouths, and be operated therein against the gums without unduly discomforting the patient, and by which a combined reciprocating and oscillating movement, desirable especially in the treatment of the gums, may be produced. Another object is to provide for the shielding of the operative parts of the construction against the access thereto" of saliva and medicaments used in the massaging operation, and to prevent injury to the mouth of the patient, such as would be caused if the cheek, lip, tongue, or corner of the patients mouth, became caught in the moving parts of the instrument and consequently pinched.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of our improved massage implement provided in a form suitable for attachment to the ordinary hand-piece of a dental-engine. Fig. 2 is a View in end elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in longitudinal sectional elevation of the device. Fig. at is a section taken at the line 4 on Fig, 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrow, the reciprocating and oscillating part of the structure carrying themassaging device being shown in elevation; and Fig. 5 is a view showing in elevation the parts which form the head of the massaging implement, the parts being shown in dis,

assembled relation and the guard in section.

The instrument as shown comprlses a casing 10 equipped with a tubular section 11,

preferably of steel, screwed at its reduced end 12 into the threaded open end of this casing, with a plate 13 screwed upon the outer end of the member 11. A shaft 14 extends through-the structure just described,

being journaled in the journal-section 11 and held against longitudinal movement therein by means ofcollars 15 and 16 secured to the shaft at opposite ends of the section 11,'the

shaft 14 extending beyond the inner end of the casing 10, or, in other words, beyond the right-hand end of this casing in Figs. 1 and,

3 as represented, adapting the device to be pitman 19 rocks and reciprocates under the action of the crank-pin 17 A cap-plate 22 forms with the end of the member 1.1 and the member 13, a housing for the operative parts just described, this cap-plate being held in position on the member 13 through the medium of dowels 23 which enter openings 24 in the plate 13, and a screw which, in the construction illustrated, is the pin 21, this screw extending through the cap-plate 22 and screwing into the member 13, whereby it is caused to perform the double function of the pivot for the pitman and attaching means for the cap-plate or housing-member. By preference, the pitman 19 is located between bearing-plates 25 and 26 held in place by the screw-pin 21, the plate 25 being in the form of a washer set into a recess 27 in the face of the member 13.

The. massaging device is represented at 28, this device being constructed of any suitable material and of any desirable form. it being preferred that it be formed of rubber. The massaging device 28 isprovided on the outer end of thepitman 19, and in the construe-- tion'shown is secured thereto through the medium of a screw 29 molded into the device -28 and screwing into the outer end of the pitman 19. p

Guard means are provided for substantially closing the open end of the housing through which the pitman operates, to prevent medicaments and saliva from working into the bearings of the operatin parts and decreasing the efliciency of the In ricant and protecting the mouth of the patient. These guard means are preferably formed of a cupengaging said pitman oscillating the latter,

shaped member 30, soft material, which extends across the open end of the housing and extends upwardly along the outer surface of the wall of the said opening and relatively closely hugs the latter as shown, the member 30 being preferably secured in position on the pitman 19 by means of the screw 29 which secures the massage device 28 to the pitman.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the rotation of the shaft 14 will produce simultaneously reciprocation and oscillation of the pitman 19 and consequently the massaging device 28, thus producin a compound movement which is very desira le in a massaging implement, especially for dental work. While the guardmember 30 snugly fits the open end of the housing and substantially closes it as above explained, nevertheless by reason of its yielding character, it does not obstruct the free movement of the pitman.

While we have illustrated and described a particular construction in which our invention is embodied, we do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto, as the same may be variously modified and altcred without departing from the spirit of the invention, it being our intention to claim our invention as fully and completely as the prior state of the art will permit What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a massaging implement, the combination of a housing, a rotatable shaft,-a pitman, an eccentric member on said shaft and engaging said pitman for reciprocating and oscillating the latter, a relatively stationary member adjacent said pitman, a pin and slot connection between said last-named member and pitman forming a pivot for said pitman upon which the latter rocks and reciprocates and a massage device operatively connected with said pitman.

2. In a massaging implement, the combination of a houslng, a rotatable shaft, a pitman, an eccentric member on said shaft and for reciprocating and said pitman containing an elongated slot, a pin extending into said slot and forming a pivot upon which said pitman rocks and reciprocates, all of said actuating parts being inclosed within said housing, and a massage device operatively connected with said pitman.

3. In a massagin implement, the combination of a rotatab e shaft, a housing having a removable section, a pitman in said housing, an eccentric member on said shaft. and engaging said pitman for reciprocating and oscillating the latter, said pitman containing an elongated slot, a place said removable section of the housing preferably of relativelycasing,

pin securing in for operating said name and extending through said slot and forming a pivot upon which said pitman rocks and reciprocates, and a massage-device operatively connected with said pitman.

4. In a massaging implement, the combination of a casing, a drive-member therein, a movable element carrying a massage-device, extending through an opening in said casing, mechanism for operating said element from said drive-member, and guardmeans on said elementlocated adjacent said massage-device surrounding the open lower end of said casing.

5. In a massaging implement, the'combination of a casing, a drive-member therein, a movable element carrying a massage device extending through an opening in said mechanism for operating said element from said drive-member, and a guard device on said element extending across the portion of said casing through which said element extends. h

6. In a massaging im lement, the combination of a drive-mom er, a movable element carrying a massage-device, mechanism for operating said element member, a housing for said mechanism and through which said element,,, extends, and guard-means on said element surrounding the open end of said housing, for the purpose set forth.

7. In a massaging implement, the combination of a drive-member, a movable element carrying a massage-device, mechanism element from said drivemember, a housing for said mechanism and through which said element extends, and guard-means in the form of a cup 0113 flexible material, carried by said element and surrounding and substantially closing the open end-portion of said housing.

8. In a massaging implement, the combination of a casing, a drive-member therein, a movable element carrying a massage device mounted to ,be reciprocated and oscillated in an opening in said casin mechanism for operating said element rom said drive-shaft member, and guard means carried by said element and reciprocating therewith and closingthe space surrounding said element and t through which said element extends.

9. n a massaging implement, the combination of a casing, a drive-member therein, a movable element carrying a massage device extending through an opening in said casing, mechanism for operating said element from said drive-member, and guard means on said element located adjacent said massage device and spanning the space between said device and said casin OMER LEONKRD.

AXEL 'll. JOHNSON;

from said drive- 

